ADVANCE CARE PLANNING ELIMINATES TOUGH CHOICES

Everyone 18 and older should choose a health care proxy

Niagara
Hospice is kicking off National Hospice & Palliative Care Month with an Advance Care Planning program that is free and open to the community. The goal
is to encourage people to begin a conversation to start learning about critical
and end-of-life health care options. Topics covered will include choosing a
health care proxy; organ, tissue and body donation; living wills and more.

The Advance Care Planning program will be held Thursday, November 2 at 3-4:30pm at
Niagara Hospice, 4675 Sunset Drive in Lockport. The program encourage
participants to think about what's important to them should their health become
compromised; select an "agent" to speak for them should they become unable to
do so; to talk about choices and put them in writing by completing a New York
State Health Care Proxy form.

"Advance
health care planning allows peace of mind for you and your family by reducing
uncertainty, and avoiding confusion and conflict over your care," said Cheryl
Ferguson, BSW, MSW and Niagara Hospice social worker. Ferguson asked: "If you
ever become unable to make health care decisions for yourself, who do you want
to do that for you?" New York State's Health Care Proxy Law, enacted in 1990,
enables individuals to appoint a health care agent (proxy), such as a family
member, trusted friend or loved one, to make medical decisions on their behalf
should they become unable to do so.

Ferguson
will facilitate the November 2 program and be available to answer questions.
Free forms and refreshments will be available. Call 280-0742 to register for
the free program.